SOS Radio Week 2016

The Hilderstone radio club enjoyed a tremendously successful operation of a special event radio station at Margate Lifeboat station using the call sign GB1MLS. Over the week we made nearly 500 contacts all over the United Kingdom and Europe, including 18 countries. The aim was to raise funds and awareness of the volunteer work of the RNLI’s rescue service. One contact was with a person who had in fact owed his life to the RNLI. Other lifeboat stations exchanged greetings with the Margate crew.

Ethan calling CQ CQ guided by Ian Lowe

The cooperation between the Hilderstone radio club and the Margate Lifeboat station has prospered to the extent that three inactive amateur licence holders amongst the lifeboat crew have now rekindled an interest in the hobby and one more crew member obtained his foundation licence over the year. This has resulted in five licence holders on the crew, as the station recruited club member Ian Lowe to become a Deputy Launching Authority. One of the contacts was with some pupils from Wellesley House school who are training for their foundation licence in preparation for their amateur radio contact with Tim Peake later this year. Their young voices cut through the airwaves making contact with amateurs at far flung corners of the U.K.

Thank you, London Array

London Array have very kindly sponsored the club with a cheque for £200. The photo shows London Array’s Media and Public Relations Manager Gail Lewin presenting the cheque to club member Ian Lowe who is also the Deputy Launching Manager at Margate Lifeboat Station.